title: Vitamin K and brain function.
abstract: One of the fat-soluble vitamins, vitamin K was initially discovered for its role in blood coagulation. Although several vitamin K-dependent hemostatic proteins are particularly important for the brain, other vitamin K-dependent proteins (VKDPs), not associated with blood coagulation, also contribute to the brain function. In addition to the VKDPs, vitamin K participates in the nervous system through its involvement in sphingolipid metabolism, a class of lipids widely present in brain cell membranes. Classically known for their structural role, sphingolipids are biologically potent molecules involved in a wide range of cellular actions. Also, there is growing evidence that the K vitamer, menaquinone-4, has anti-inflammatory activity and offers protection against oxidative stress. Finally, although limited in numbers, reports point to a modulatory role of vitamin K in cognition. This short review presents an overview of the known role of vitamin K in brain function to date.
authors.affiliation: Département de Nutrition, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Guylaine
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferland
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011486:Protein C / Q000378:metabolism; D017293:Protein S / Q000378:metabolism; D013107:Sphingolipids / Q000378:metabolism; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000378:metabolism*; D024482:Vitamin K 2 / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D000099255:Growth Arrest-Specific Protein 6
chemical_list: D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D011486:Protein C; D017293:Protein S; D013107:Sphingolipids; D014812:Vitamin K; D024482:Vitamin K 2; D000099255:Growth Arrest-Specific Protein 6; C030814:menatetrenone